Michael Commons
Wave Energy Ireland : The current reality – Micheal Commons
A review paper on the viability of this renewable energy in Ireland (ocean energy may be divided into two categories, wave energy and tidal energy. Though this paper is a review of wave energy for background and reference purposes, it will touch on tidal energy also).
Keywords: megawatts, gigawatt, terawatt, fed in tariff, wave energy converter, research and development, tidal energy, wave energy, wind energy, linear wave testbed, wave bob, OE Bouy, oscillating water column, Oyster, Pelamis, Reciprocating Hydrofoil,real time wave data, elves 10, pendulor device, wave ryder bouys
Abstract
Demand for energy worldwide has been growing at an exponential rate during the last century, this has been driven by population growth and advances in technology. With the world on under ever increasing pressure to find sustainable and renewable energy while reducing greenhouse gases, the majority of countries are pursuing realistic solutions. Ireland is not unique in this quest, it’s development of ocean technologies have led to research in wave, tidal energy. Of all their renewable energy sources, wave power is perhaps the most obvious with visual displays of large waves crashing into our shores. The geographic location of Ireland points it as a hotspot for both wind and wave energy development and harassing with opportunity for energy exports. While wind energy has become the fastest-growing sector of renewable energy title, calculated industry worth €81 billion[5]. Models so that we energy law is not sufficient to meet renewable energy targets set within various regions worldwide. A hybird system incorporating onshore or offshore wind farms tidal and wave energy systems. Ireland has enjoyed some moderate success with hydroelectric schemes since the construction of the Thurlock hill station that started in 1968 and completed six years later in 1974 and is operational since and creates up to 292 MW of electricity.[19]This is Irelands one and only pumped hydro storage development at the time , this shows Ireland historical commitment to be self-sufficient. Current Hydro-electricity generation in Ireland today is approximately 11% of the total energy supplied.
But with current energy demands hydro schemes have reduced impact in meeting our current and future energy needs. With over 3000 miles of the Atlantic Ocean hitting the West of Ireland and northern Scotland, Ireland is in the position to claim the lion share of calculated energy in the order of 320,000MW. In our current economic climate wave energy may not only secure our requirements for clean local energy source, but also contribute to our economy through development of ocean devices through our research and development programme with an end-stage of sales of energy devices, and associated intellectual property. The value of a domestic market for ocean energy in Ireland is estimated at €176million by 2020, increasing to €784 million by 2025.[5]
Ireland has 3rd Level research expertise in the areas of turbine design at University of Limerick, wave tank model testing at the Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre of University College Cork and wave energy modelling at Queen’s University. In terms of prototype development, there are currently three wave energy developers in Ireland namely Ocean Energy, Hydam and Wavebob.These activities represent the early stages of apotential new industry in Ireland. The result could also see Ireland positioned with the potential to become a world leader in the manufacture and use of ocean energy systems.[10]
With Ireland's gross electricity consumption of 44 TWh per year, of which 90% is currently imported and aggressive carbon reductions of 20% by 2020. It would make sense for Ireland to embrace this energy source [5] [12]
This makes for good reading and support by the government’s current programs for the above however, Ireland has had ocean energy research programmes for the last two decades with commercial results yet to be achieved. This review paper aims to look into the current reality and future plans to utilise our wave energy, and identify the technical, economical, and socio-political barriers to place in Ireland in a prominent position in this industry.
Paper Contents
1. Introduction- What is wave energy?
a. Tidal Energy
b. Wave Energy v Tidal Energy
2. Government policy in Ireland(The Plan)
3. Wave energy device research and development- The fundamentals
a. Ireland specific
b. Beyond Ireland
4. Obstacles to wave energy development in Ireland
a. Environmental
b. Financial
c. Infrastructure
d. Technical
e. Socio-political
5. Conclusion
6. Citation and References
Introduction – What is Wave energy?
Wave energy is indirectly created by solar energy from the sun, as the sun heats the oceans rising warm air interacts with cold air, creating wind which blows across the oceans generating waves.[1] Unlike direct and solar energy ocean waves and not perpetual and have a beginning and end, each wave carrying energy needs to be intercepted and convert ,part of that energy as 100% efficiency is not realistic this also brings seasonal factors into design models on average wave heights . Off the coast of Ireland with winter highs of 12 metres Wave energy is only one type of ocean energy, which also includes thermal energy and tidal energy
[5]
It is primarily rising and falling motion of water that is harnessed by wave energy converters to generate electricity these converters can be either onshore or offshore systems. Onshore wave energy systems include technologies such as the OWC (oscillating water column) systems and the pendulor . Offshore devices can be floating or submerged and include overtopping spill over devices point absorbers and wave attenuators. Device Waves are generated in open water when the wind speed is greater than 0.5m/s , the crests or the peaks of the wave travels at the same speed of the wind that created them and travel in the same direction. The distance between each press is known as the wavelength and the period is a total time from one crest to the next. The size of the wave increases depending upon their consistency of the wind in that direction and distance the wave travels before been defused by Islands are objects. Waves have long memories and will travel in the same direction from which it started up to days after the wind has ceased to blow, the 3000 miles of Atlantic fetch between the US and the West Coast of Ireland (in particular Galway and Mayo) to place Ireland in poll position to harvest this energy windfall. Wave is the least mature or developed of suitable Irish renewable energies. There are a number of precommercial wave devices currently under tests, these will be reviewed later in this document.
Tidal enregy
Tidal energy is another form of ocean energy and is sometimes called lunar energy due to the gravitational pull of the moon, the size of the tide varies around the world depending upon the earth position around the sun and distance from the moon. The main two extremes are neap and spring tides, the latter being the greater. Ireland’s raw energy of this type travelling on an offshore is best isolated in narrow inlets bays or artificial tidal pools with turbines powered by the tidal force as a person travels for one pool. Tidal stream farms share similarities with wind farms and deliver similar energy. Typical tidal currents of 2 to 3 knots can deliver 6W/m2 per unit.[8]Were tidal ranges are exceptionally high barrages are proven technology. An example of this is the Mirage at La Rance in France have the tidal range of 8 m an average produces 60 MW[8]. Since 1966 there are many prototype and devices in design and test. Just as wind farms are and always will be a supplement to Ireland's energy needs, tidal energy is limited to specific site locations in Ireland and Europe. Unlike solar and wind power, tidal energy is totally predictable with four tides every 24 hours, two inbound and two outbound it appears to have little to no environmental or social impacts.[1] The greatest Irish tidal resource as concentrated off the east coast as the tidal flow is strong entry the Irish Sea. Along St Georges Channel and the North Channel peak spring tide generate currents up to 2 m/s, which is necessary for energy generation. The south and west coasts are offer low tidal currents with exceptions as mentioned in inlets such as the Shannon Estuary.
Viable Tidal Energy Resource in Irish Waters (SEI report)
Irish Sea coastline is approximately 400km. Allowing for coastal infrastructure with a ratio of 4:1 and a tidal pool span of 4m then tidal pool area coverage is 100,000 * 4 = 400,000m2.
Total Tidal energy = 400,000 x 3.2 = 12.8MW/m2
Convert to Wh/year = 12.8 *106 x 8,736 = 112GWh/year = 0.112TWh/YEAR[8]
Tidal stream farms generate energy by installing a number of turbines in a particular area, linking their output to a single, grid connection. Each turbine is placed across the entire channel such that flow disturbance by one turbine does not affect another. The size of the turbine in proportion to the area it sets is important for maximum energy generation, turbines occupying a small fraction of the channel extract up to 2/3 of the available energy in that area without restricting the flow a less common methodology for tidal energy extraction is Reciprocating Hydrofoil Devices, which works on the same principle as wings of an aeroplane. A curved, angled hydrofoil's move up and down by the tidal flow over its surface, hydraulic pistons and crankshaft mechanics converts this linear motion into angular rotation, which powers a generator above the water's surface. In shallow water is expected that these devices can extract up to 4 times as much energy as a conventional rotating turbine. Early trials by universities in the UK appear promising but lack of funding and valid research in this technology, points to a slow development [8]
Tidal Energy v Wave Energy
To summarise and compare at a high level tidal and wave energy is both appear environmentally friendly with little data available to understand the full impact as yet. Wave energy will have some visual impact is as most devices are above the surface and interference of tidal currents locally on the coastline or ecosystem is yet to be documented. Tidal energy operates in depths between 20 and 40 m and may be impacted from under water, Marine life, such as seaweed reducing turbine performance. There is room for both types of renewable energies in Ireland. Tidal energy, as mentioned associated specific sites due to suitable tidal current speeds and depths. The last few years have shown major increases in renewable resources and the government have very aggressive targets for the future, they are currently on target to achieve 15% (completed) renewable by 2010 and 40% by 2020, currently over 90% of Ireland energy is imported[12] with % from renewable resources , wind farms contribution is growing at a rate of % in Europe and Ireland is no exception with % of all our energy met by wind.
Estimates of total harness able wind energy is:
Total energy Wind can supply = 343*106 x 2 = 686MW/m2 (20,177 Wind turbines).
Convert to Wh/year = 686*106 x 8,736 = 6TWh/year . This is 13.5 % of total needs based on 44Thw per year.[8]
This shows how dependant the country is on fossil fuels as 90% of the electricity generated is from non-sustainable
The inconsistency of renewable energy sources will mean we will always have some dependency on baseline energies like gas, oil and coal, which may be consistent in energy supply but unreliable set costs
Government policy in Ireland (The Plan)
The Irish government has planned to meet our energy requirements by our very strong policy on ocean development in the form of tidal and wave power. In November 2002 the Irish government engaged in a consultation process to look at Ocean energy options the public consultation document was called “options for the development of wave energy In Ireland”. This was seen as a serious effort to put Ireland on the roadmap of Ocean energy. The document outlined the potential of both energies and title and wave power options are as preliminarily of energy manufacturing devices in development. The document outlined sustainable energy Ireland SEI and the marine Institute as joint partners for future developments of Ireland's energy strategies. In a development of a global strategy to save energy technology in Ireland were outlined.
A. Become a technology leader in the field of Ocean energy by committing to a significant development programme for ocean wave and tidal energy.
B. To provide Ireland with means to utilise the Irishman a resource and develop an exportable core of research excellence.
C. To maintain watchful brief in the field of wave and tidal energy
The outcome from the consultation, which ended in February 2003 was approach B [10]
The Marine Institute is working to develop commercial technologies which utilise Ireland's unique playground for technology testing in the form of, infrastructure and expertise for wave energy development for both local and international agencies.
To reach the core of excellence number of research centres are in place in Ireland, some long established
The Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre, University College, Cork: Long established expertise in the hydrodynamics of wave power devices
Department of Electrical Engineering, University College, Cork: expertise in grid connectivity and power quality issues
Queens University, Belfast: Mechanical and Electrical Engineering & OWC wave energy devices.
University of Limerick: the Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering Department has developed specific expertise in Turbine and Power take off systems and Computational Fluid Dynamics.
Additional specific expertise includes the
Department of Electrical Engineering, NUI Maynooth (Software Control Systems) and the Department of Mechanical Engineering, TCD (Hydraulics and mechanical engineering)
Strategic Review of Wave Energy Resource – HMRC, Cork.
Development of Turbine Technologies for OWC type converters– University of Limerick. (1990)[11]
2007 saw with the government’s White Paper “ Delivering a sustainable energy future for Ireland “ unveiling actions plans which included
Achieving 15% of electricity consumption on a national basis from renewable energy sources by 2010 and 33% by 2020, further all-island renewable energy
target for 2020, which will complement and reinforce the ambitious national target of 33%. Put in place at least 500MW of installed ocean energy capacity by 2020 underpinned by national and international work to accelerate technology advances. [11]
Wave technology is still currently under test, different devices are being tested for efficiency, durability and robustness in the seawater environment. The following data is relevant to the technologies that are under test. Deep water waves on average produce waves with amplitude of 1.5m, velocity of 8ms-1 and a generating efficiency of 50%.
Atlantic Coastline is approximately 400km in length. Allowing for an ocean infrastructure (shipping access) with a ratio of 10:1 then ocean space available is 40km = 40,000m.
Total energy Waves can supply = 40,000 x 20000 = 0.8GW/m
Convert to Wh/year = 0.8*106 x 8,736 = 6.989TWh/year .
[8]
When calculated against 44 TWH/year approx usage, this is equivalent to approximately 16% of Ireland’s energy needs. However this is based on coastline impacts with deep ocean arrays offering increased two and three energy options could far exceed this figure. 2007 saw the government release another significant White Paper , which contained a framework for a four phase strategy to capitalise on Ireland’s ocean energy resource is proposed with review procedures and decision gates at the end of each phase:
Phase 1 (2005 to 2007) focuses on development by supporting product R&D and research facilities. The objective of this phase is to develop and test large scale prototype concepts and develop technical leadership in this area. The estimated grant support cost for Phase 1 is €4.9m. Following are review of Phase 1, a decision to proceed to Phase 2 will be made.
Phase 2 (2008 to 2010) would support the development of pre-commercial grid connected devices with the objective of demonstrating the potential for a cost effective fully functional wave energy converter operating in the Irish electricity market. Here an option to support either a national developer or an external commercial developer is included. Grant support for product development and a test connection along with electricity price support of 15c/kWh could be offered. The maximum cost for Phase 2 is €10.5m. Following a review of Phase 2, a decision to proceed to Phase 3 will be made.
Phase 3 (2011 – 2015) could provide support for a 10MW large -scale array of devices to be connected to the grid. Some level of grant support for product development and grid connection, and possibly electricity price support, would likely be required. Following a review of Phase 3, a decision to proceed to Phase 4 will be made.
Phase 4 (2016 onwards), large scale market deployment for ocean energy. It is likely that some level of industry development support will be necessary at this phase; particularly if an export focused industry in ocean energy device manufacture is to be developed.[5]
The Roadmap
Four Phase Ocean Energy Strategy
Plan break out
[5]
However, the White Paper gave limited detail on ocean energy with majority of renewable energy investments projected to be in wind farms.
Research and development of wave energy devices –The Fundamentals
Wave energy is best described as diverse over the world with individual efforts from different countries leading to similar results. The 2007 government White Paper emphasised the need for close partnership between both lab and field research for any ocean development technologies. Most developed countries with coastline have begun ocean technology development, Denmark tried to develop strong wave energy industry early on but due for wave anti-climate and we technology development, reduce its focus on this energy sector.[10]The three main categories ocean technologies to generate electricity are: oscillating water, dictate which our system, and pendulor device offshore. Offshore devices can be floating or submerged and include overtopping spill over devices, point absorbers and wave attenuators. There are numerous prototype designs for all three main categories throughout the world. The early stages of development takes place in controlled lavatory environments typically a large test tank which allow controlled variables such as water temperature consistent and wave height and velocity of waves. Northwest America has a strong ocean technology program based in Oregon state alongside the Pacific Ocean .This Oregon State University of Washington have partnered to develop a National Maritime renewable energy Centre from both US and international wave, tidal developers funded by the US Department of energy for this test centre will transform wave energy from a fledgling technology into practical energy source. The unique wave energy linear testbed was installed in 2007. Oregon State University were able to develop and test its wave energy converter, known as the elves 10 at 10 KW direct drive using permanent magnet, transverse flux, linear generator.
Elves 10 basic design[2]
Its principle is simple, the device is anchored so remains stationary and afloat section moves up and down following the waves creating relative linear motion between the two sections. The central spar consists of copper coils along the centre of the floor section contains permanent magnets. The resulting changing magnetic field at the coils induces voltage by Faraday's law. The aid of collection boys in the ocean wave profiles are reproduced in the linear testbed covering a full spectrum of sea state conditions. The linear testbed is capable of driving at 10 KW wave energy converter at full load assuming generator efficiency a 50% with the 95% efficient device the lenient testbed can provide enough force to extract 19 kW of Electrical power [2] the main control linear testbed is known as position control which there are several, including position versus time read from input file fixed velocity control and a manual job mode. Position control allows characterisation of wave energy converters, but does not always give the full picture of how the device would behave in the ocean environment by adding a force control algorithm to the testbed. The delta between the test tank and ocean reality can be close to give more accurate results of how the device would behave floating in the ocean.[2]
Test bed results of Buoy height working to match Wave height [2]
Ireland specific
Ireland has developed and invested in a suite of test facilities....
HMRC(Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre), University College Cork,
HMRC is the only facility in Ireland with a Wave Flume and an Ocean Wave Basin, which is principally dedicated to research and lends itself to education
The Wave Flume is this 26 m long, 3 m wide and 1 m deep , one flap type paddle active absorption
the ocean wave Basin this 25 m long, 80 m wide and 1 m deep the wave generation systems. There is 40 flap type wave shaped aluminium paddles attached to the side of the tank. Each paddle has an active absorption and can act independently . The wave generation can deliver directional irregular seas of up to 0.18 m with 2.5 seconds period. The active absorption system allows feedback signals to adjust paddle motion removing reflect waves in the artificial tank. Numerical models for testing new devices are quickly discarded once a design is constructed and tested, minor changes are added on to the physical model until an optimum design is achieved without wave region whose waves match the optimum height and period from each individual device once characterisation is completed. The variation of different oceans in the world will always lead to multiple device design on suitability for that operational region.
[17]
HMRC not only focuses on device design and testing but have become experts in wave in tidal energy resources and hold a large database of results gathered around the coast and in particular the Atlantic ocean. Much of this data is collected by wave Rider buoys which are used to gather data and wave characterisation
Below shows wave heights and period from December to May in Galway Bay test area
An Ocean Energy Test Site for scaled prototypes of wave energy devices in Galway Bay since March 2006. . The site is 37 Hectares in area and is in 21-24 metres of water. The wave data is updated every 3 minutes. The Test Site is situated on the North side of Galway Bay, 1 mile East of Spiddal .[12]
There are three main types of devices in harnessing wave energy attenuators and oscillating point absorber, which operates on Faraday law principle. The two devices developed in Ireland, which have shown the most success from trials in Galway Bay are the Wave Bob and the OE Buoy.[12]
The Wavebob wave energy converter is an oscillating point absorber on slack moorings that converts wave energy into low costs KW H electricity with average electrical output of 500 KW, which should increase once situated in North Atlantic sites to > 1.5MW. The outer torus has a diameter of the order of 20 metres, and an overall height of 8 metres, below deck sits the power train and control systems. As a large floating structure, wavebob has proven relatively stable in all but the most severe storms.
Wave bob - http://www.westwave.ie/technologies/
The wave bob is unique in the high output for oscillating point absorbers and is an industry model. It’s ten-year successful R & D plan developed by the HMRC is now regarded as industry protocol. The wave bob is an axi-symmetric, self-reacting point absorber . It incorporates oscillating absorber features that have the ability to de-tune in seconds, which is important for a resonating energy absorber which is protected by series of world patents. It is designed to be deployed in large arrays offshore. Key features described by the manufacturer are automatic adjustment to constantly changing wave conditions high average electrical power output. This on-board intelligence system would be useful incorporating with other units in excess array of ocean currents, very typical of the North Atlantic. Low operational and maintenance costs, powerful response to long period of ocean waves, predictable output strong seaworthiness of a bouy structure. The wavebob typically carries three or four motor-alternator sets, all or some of which may be entrained, depending on incident wave energy. In-built redundancy facilitates remote switching and high availability when weather conditions might preclude maintenance visits.[17] The main device remains on site (for up to 25 years), with individual components being replaced and taken ashore for servicing as
Wave Bob has seen some key milestones of late winning the “Green Machine of the Year” in 2010. Wave Bob has agreed ESB International technical services, investment from Bord Gais and $2.4 million grant by the US Department of energy.-[17]
OE Buoy , The OE Buoy has been designed around the oscillating water column principle. A pneumatic conversion device To ensure survivability the platform has only a single moving part.Like the wave Bob OE Buoy was tested in Cork University through model scaling also using Ecole Central de Nantes, France. OE Buoy is currently in phase 3, a 28 tonne model 1:4 to scale of the end product . This ten-year project also how close partnership with the HMRC. OE Buoy also serves as a test platform for four parts of other manufacture and design groups internationally. The manufacturer of OE Buoy is currently participating in the UCC led EU FP7 CORES Project [17]which is a collaborative research project for concepts for ocean energy converters currently focus for CORES is floating OWC (oscillating water column). The three year project which is due to complete in 2011 is focusing on four separate areas, Airtubines, electrical and control, moorings and risers and feel testing. OE Buoy is currently situated in Galway Bay. As air in the hole is forced up through the turbine by the oscillating wave the turbine turns after which a vacuum is created which pulls air back through into the whole continuing to turn the turbine in the same direction.
Oscillating water column [17]
Recent 20 year storms in Atlantic waves have confirmed the survivability of the OE Buoy as a power generation platform in the most extreme conditions.
OE Buoy has a clear development plan consists of four phases, phase 1, research and development, phase 2 development of a wave energy test centre for precommercial demonstration SEAI which is already underway off the Belmullet Peninsula in County Mayo and ESB ‘s subsidiary ESBI (ESB International) which will allow full-scale grid connections to evaluate performance once in the open environment, phase 3 development of precommercial array projects delivering (5MW-10 MW) by 2015,phase 4 sees development towards 2020 and beyond of commercial array projects[5]
Beyond Ireland
Strong wave devices include Pelamis, a semisubmerged wave energy converter consisting of 5 cylindrical sections linked by hinged joints which drive hydraulic Rams pumping high-pressure fluid through hydraulic motors. The motors drive electric generators producing electricity power from all joints which is fed into a single table, which in turn is fed into a junction box on the sea bed. Several devices from an array can be fed into the wind power point. All generation systems are sealed enjoyed inside the device, the main sections are made of mild steel with contained sand from ballast. The hydraulic fluid use in the Pelmis is biodegradable in the unlikely event of the fluid escape into the ocean .The Pelamis can generate 40 KW /m on average wave conditions per annum ,is 180 m long and 4 m in diameter and is one of four energy converter technologies being reviewed by the West wave project. [16]The Pelamis is designed to work in an array configuration, support for this project is on-going with Shetland partnership agreement November 2011 with plans for a roadmap for marine development in the Shetland Islands. A 10 MW wave farm using Pelamis technology of the south-west coast of the Shetlands [16]
Futuristic model of Pelamis array – [5]
A Pelamis device in Orkney November 2011 at the European Marine energy centre as a cross industry collaboration project in tandem with another Pelamis device to monitor wave farm generation. The latest Pelamis the P2 is stated to be rated at 750 kW with should meet demand of 500 homes for a year[16]. The Oyster wave energy converter is a device buoyant, hinged flap partly attached to the seabed at an optimum debt of 10 m and typically 500 m from shore. What is unique about this wave device is they hinged flap which is almost underwater travels backwards and forwards with Shaw bound waves. This flat movement drive to hydraulic pistons that in turn drive pressurised water onshore into a hydroelectric turbine, the device mimics Hydro Electric power plant. A lot of investment has gone into the Oyster concepts to date with recent £7 million been secured by shareholders for development of Oyster 2 known as Oyster 800, scaled-down models been developed at Queen's University’s wave tank in Belfast. The newly developed Oyster 800 is scheduled to be installed in Orkney 2011[6] with two further devices to follow the same location in 2012 and 2013. This will demonstrate the feasibility of installing multiple oysters in small arrays. There is a design concept to connect multiple Oyster wave energy devices to a single onshore plant were several hundred units connected will deliver megawatts of electricity onshore.
Oyster operational diagram. [6]
Sustainable energy authority Ireland (SEAI) is also supporting aquamarine powers’s Oyster wave technology to develop sustainable Marine energy projects in Ireland.
With wave energy still in the development phase worldwide, it is difficult to understand and foresee non-technical barriers to this renewable energy source. Unlike wave energy wind energy has progressed greatly and is considered a mature industry which has grown in Europe at the rate of 30% per annum since 1990 , with an estimated installed capacity of 180,000 MW. By 2020 offshore wind energy offers the closest comparison to what is wave energy will look like once established. Despite multiple research projects on wave energy, there is little published data to date, but energy costs are believed to be in line with wind energy costs an average installed cost of €1454/kW and projected costs of €1115/kW by 2020.[5] The offshore wind industry is estimated to be worth €81 billion by 2020. Wave energy has not yet arrived at the commercial stage, with many prototype projects unsuccessful or not progressing and with the current economic climate governments and companies may be slow to invest in an unproven renewable energy. What is required is the strong verifiable data from commercially successful device to further increase the amount of investment in wave energy, the wave bob and other devices in this paper will appear to be very close to a commercial reality. R&D grants play an important role in development with that 26 million Euro umbrella funds allocated to the ocean energy development for European research. Ireland is the only country to have comprehensive a strategic plan on wave energy development and received €3 million from this fund despite a small population. Test sites play an important role in device development with transport location and grid connection and environmental impact assessment wavier necessary. Ireland has a quarter size test area in Galway Bay but has no grid connection yet making it less attractive than sites that do like and Denmark, at Nissum Brednin (grid-connected). The only private test site exists is in Portugal owned by Pelamis.[17]
Obstacles to wave energy development in Ireland
Environmental
As with other types of renewable energy, opposition to wave power has focused on the aesthetic and noise impacts of the machinery on the environment as well as the possible impact on marine wildlife.[1]
Wind energy has seen objections to onshore projects from people living adjacent to wind farms and visual distaste and noise generated, as society mature is and appreciates the importance of renewable energy opposition reduces. Similar opposition should be expected from wave farms, particularly in deep waters currently available for fishing. Careful planning will have to be undertaken to minimise impacts the shipping lanes and tourism. Offshore wave devices using oscillating airpower will create noise pollution and require correct locations. Despite successful testing from the OE Buoy with standing 20 years storm in Galway, device survivability could pose a threat 2010 saw a large wave energy generator sunk off New South Wales coast. Operational and maintenance costs would now be truly understood until an array of devices are tested over time. Variations in sea conditions will impact device performance, lack of understanding of the effects of global warming can create uncertainty in the future of ocean energy levels. The environmental impacts of wave farms is not yet understood studies have been carried out on offshore wind farms in Holland at the operational OWEZ wind farm on biota with little impact on marine life noted[1]. As wave energy is weather dependant , changing climate is of importance, with global warning accelerating global changes prediction models currently show modelled averaged winter wind- wave changes by 2090: the European Atlantic margin_ focus Ireland rise of 0.4 – 0.6m/s . [9] This increase in wave height will not be a negative impact to wave development but a benefit once factored into design.
Financial
In light of the current economic situation that Europe finds itself future funding despite policy is not guaranteed. Growth for commercial development should be sought from the private sector, using FTT (feed in tariffs) and ROCS (renewable energy credits). Different countries in Europe are assisting private organisations to invest in their respective countries. Italy leads with the highest proposed tariff for energy of €0.34/kWh ,Portugal is using well developed schemes were initial tariff of €0.26/kWh is promised for the first five 4MW projects totalling 20 MW, the more energy is produced the lower the FIT, Ireland offers a tariff of €0.22/kWh for the first 5 MW generated in the proposed Bellmullet test site.[2] The DTI recently announced the launch of this fund providing a UK fund of ￡42m (€62m) [5]programme of investment for the development of marine energy technology, Ireland cannot compete with this level of funding.
Infrastructure
Despite near-perfect wave conditions on the West of Ireland and strong research and development programmes Ireland suffers from poor infrastructure. There are currently no grid connections to test sites which other countries offer, this is partly due to isolation as in Ireland with no major interconnections. The Irish government recently announced a €4 billion network upgrade known as grid 25. The potential commercial array sites will be some distance to near ports for regular maintenance and management, this can be seen as a negative for wave equipment needs to be taken ashore or transported via remote country roads to launch points.[2]
Technical
Wave generation will not always match usages, unlike fossil fuels capacity factor of wave is estimated at 40% [15] and requires a intermittency management system, increased interconnection and energy storage may need to be investigated.
Not enough is still known about the requirements of an optimum wave energy device. A larger device, with stronger materials to survive weather storms may prove more expensive that projected on a mass array scale.
Most of the technologies employed today are centralised and readily dispatchable and usually situated far away from the end user. Because of these two reasons the main concern was the transport and distribution of the generated power which led the development of modern distribution grid . As energy production is generated as required with little to no need for storage. The global electricity production capacity is about 3400GW whereas the total storage capacity is only for 90GW which is only about 2.6% of the total production capacity[8]. ESB data clearly points to a fixed pattern of energy usage in Ireland. (See graph).????????? There can be seasonal fluctuations in the consumption as well, for example in electricity consumed for heating purposes. But even though all these variations exist in consumption, it follows a certain pattern. Demand can be predicted to a certain extent and the advantage in the case of wave energy is that its peak electrical production is during the winter months when Irish consumer demand is highest. Despite their usage patterns availability passions for renewable energy is not as clear, this will mean conventional energy sources will be part of our energy model until solid storage systems are put in place
Socio-Political
Commercial wave energy is planned to be available between 2010 to 2020, however, the rapid wind energy industry may have may have already reached intermittent renewable energy source modelled into Ireland's energy plan. Both wave and wind at comparable in costs. There may be no advantage in taking a risk to develop wave energy, this risk is further compounded by which energy storage solutions. However, wave energy is out of sight, unlike our in-shore wind farms and without noise pollution. Shortage of the right labour skills might be a challenge for Ireland and unlike wind, Ireland has no funding targeted for the manufacturing side of wave energy. [2]The total funding for 3rd Level R&D is estimated to be €307,000 since 1994. The corresponding grant support provided to industry is € 883,000.[2] Aware needs to be made at a political level to motivate government investment if wave energy is to gain momentum.
Conclusion
In wave energy, Ireland has the potential to become a dominant force in the world because of our unique location delivering large volume of quality waves
Our leading Ocean Energy device companies- Wavebob, Ocean Energy, are among the leading firms in this field , coupled with our entrepreneurial spirit an excellent mature government policies and initiatives in place. So, what is stopping us? Why can’t we be the next Wind Germany of the ocean energy world ?[15] With associated native employment from R & D and production of energy devices. Ireland embarked on this journey through ‘Options for the Development of Wave Energy in Ireland’- A Public Consultation Document back in 2002. A decade later and there is no commercial systems in place?. The government strategy has always been a long-term plan with their provision of 500 MW of the wave and tidal generating capacity to be in place by 2020 and a highly scenario of 1500MW of wave and tidal energy by 2030[14]. The MRIA (Marine renewable industrial association) is deeply disappointed at the lack of a clear roadmap, targets and deadlines (particularly for the near-term) and believe Ireland’s unique opportunity in Ocean Energy to build on an abundant natural resource and capture €9bn in added value and thousands of new jobs. MRIA believes the government requires more vision and commitment, similar to that shown by the Scottish Government, Ireland could become an exporter of power and our maritime energy resources could deliver job creation a large scale.
Significant progress has been made by many countries to reduce the above barriers, as technology development releases more efficient wave devices and systems. Ireland and other countries will be tempted to invest in commercial applications. Though, as stated renewable energy cannot place a conventional power plant totally due to unreliability ,though every kilowatt of energy generated from a renewable source means fossil fuels have not been burnt to me that a lot of energy and that is important. Perhaps international collaboration and private enterprise is the only current path given Ireland's economic situation. In 2006 the Irish company Open Hydro was the first company to install a tidal turbine at the EMEC (European Marine energy centre) in Scotland[16], this device now at permanent deployment at sea was one the world's first tidal technologies to reach the development stage. Open Hydro are currently developing commercial projects in the Channel Islands and Nova Scotia. ESBI (ESB international) entered an agreement with one of Europe's largest electricity utilities, Vattenfall to develop wave energy products of the West Coast of Ireland and are currently working to set up a 10 MW energy farm in Irish waters. More of the same please....
Citation and References
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wind farm in the Dutch coastal zone a compilation,H J Lindeboom1, H J Kouwenhoven2, M J N Bergman3, S Bouma4,
S Brasseur1, R Daan3, R C Fijn4, D de Haan5, S Dirksen4,
RvanHal5, R Hille Ris Lambers5, R terHofstede5, K L Krijgsveld4,
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[2] Nathan R. Henshaw, A Force Control Algorithm for a Wave Energy Linear Test Bed- 2009. Page 1,2,5,8,9,10,18,19,20,37
[3] Harnessing the Power of the Oceans-
IEA OPEN Energy Technology Bulletin1 Article Issue No. 52, July 2008
Gouri S.Bhuyan, Page 1
[4] G. Dalton1, N. Rousseau, F. Neumann, B. Holmes ,Non-technical barriers to wave energy development, comparing progress in Ireland and Europe
- Hydraulics and Maritime Research centre, UCC, Cork. Page 2,3,4,5,6,7
[5] Dept Marine and Natural Resources .Ocean Energy in Ireland- Department of Communications. Oct 2005. Page 2,3,6,7,8,10,11,15,16,18,29,30
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Jakobshavn Isbrae, West Greenland
Jeremy Lloyd1, Matthias Moros2,3, Kerstin Perner2, Richard J. Telford3,4, Antoon Kuijpers5, Eystein Jansen3,6, and
David McCarthy1
[8] Sustainable Energy — without the hot air- David JC MacKay 2009. Page 73,81,83,84,86 ,100
[9] Professor Robert J. N. Devoy Storm Patterns and Sea-Level Trends
(The Impacts of Sea-level Rise and Storminess on Coasts -
UCC and the Coastal & Marine Resources Centre. 2009 – Page 30
[10] Options for the Development of Wave Energy in
Ireland- A Public Consultation Document
November 2002. Page 6,15,16,19,27,37
[11] Delivering a sustainable future for Ireland –the energy policy framework 2007. Page 28
[12] Wave energy technology development in Ireland – Dr Tony Lewis 2008. Page 4,13,17,25
[13] 2011/2012 EE535 Renewable Energy, Systems, Technology and Economics – School of electronic engineering.
[14] Draft Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP)- MRIA 2011. Page 6,7,9,12,18
[15] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Germany
[16] http://www.pelamiswave.com/our-technology/the-pelamis
[17] http://www.openhydro.com/news/OpenHydroPR-100908.pdf
[18] http://www.seai.ie/Renewables/Ocean_Energy/
[19] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turlough_Hill
Other References
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http://www.seai.ie/Renewables/Ocean_Energy/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032199000118
http://www.seai.ie/Grants/Renewable_Energy_RD_D/Projects_funded_to_date/Ocean/
http://www.seai.ie/Renewables/Ocean_Energy/Prototype_Development_Fund/
http://www.gcse.com/energy/wave_power_opposition.htm
http://www.treehugger.com/galleries/2008/12/six-different-ways-waves-tides-generate-electricity.php
http://www.energybulletin.net/node/13646
http://www.pelamiswave.com/our-technology/the-pelamis
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Bacon, P, “The Economic Benefits of Developing Ocean Energy in the Republic of Ireland”, Bacon
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